Senior Architect

FVRD wins Silver for PIBC's Award for Excellence in Planning Practice. June 8, 2026 News story. For Immediate Release Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) and Dialog BC received the 2026 Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) Award for Excellence in Planning Practice: Small Community and Rural Areas in the silver category for the Fraser Canyon Complete Community Assessment project. The year-long project funded by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) provided a detailed look at housing, transportation, infrastructure, and access to daily needs (services) in the canyon communities. The project was guided by four themes: housing, access to daily needs, transportation, and infrastructure. The study identified opportunities to strengthen community hubs, improve local livability and inform the Official Community Plan update for parts of Electoral Areas A and B. "This project helped to identify how the Fraser Canyon can evolve over the next 20-years," said Patricia Ross, FVRD Board Chair. "I am extremely proud of the work by FVRD staff as well as how residents provided valuable feedback which showed their dedication in creating resilient communities for the future," she said. The Fraser Canyon Complete Communities Study is available for viewing on the FVRD Have Your Say site https://haveyoursay.fvrd.ca/fraser-canyon-complete-communities-study. The FVRD is the third most populous regional district in British Columbia and one of twenty-seven throughout the province. The FVRD delivers over 100 services to approximately 340,000 residents across a land base of 13,361 square kilometers. The FVRD's eight electoral areas include all of the unincorporated communities on the north and south sides of the Fraser River, reaching up beyond the Nahatlatch River in the north and extending down to the U.S. border in the south. The FVRD is responsible for governance, administration and services for the eight electoral areas, each named separately by letters of the alphabet (A-H). Learn more about the FVRD at fvrd.ca. Media contact: Samantha Piper Manager of Communications 604-702-5089 [email protected]

Vancouver's honeycomb timber tower defies seismic norms with ingenious Design. 2026-06-04 In Vancouver, a striking new building rises like a creation from a bee's imagination. This architectural marvel at 2150 Keith Drive is ten stories of glulam - a form of engineered wood - structured with diagonal braces in a hexagonal pattern that echoes a honeycomb. This distinctive structure features no concrete core or hidden steel skeleton. Instead, 106 seismic dampers drive an intelligent solution for seismic resilience. Known as The Hive, this building stands as North America's tallest seismic-force-resisting mass timber edifice. Designed by Dialog Design with engineering by Fast+Epp, The Hive is not just attracting attention for its innovative approach; it has already secured Nature's Path Foods and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) as major tenants. ICBC's choice underscores a significant industry endorsement for the structure's dependability in earthquake-prone areas. Engineering brilliance in Design. The Hive's structural ingenuity challenges traditional approaches in seismic architecture. While typical designs rely on a concrete core for lateral stability, Dialog opted for glulam braces that form a load-bearing honeycomb facade. This integration makes the structure both visually and functionally significant - the facade embodies the building's strength, not just an aesthetic layer. The building's resilience owes much to its 106 Tectonus damper connections. Inspired by tectonic plate movements, these components enable The Hive to absorb and dispel seismic energy, maintaining structural integrity. Extensive pre-construction testing, including mockups at the University of Alberta, ensured their efficacy, highlighting the rigorous standards this project met. For another take on minimalist Japanese interiors, see how a charred timber cabin was built from ruins using resilient and sustainable materials. Setting new standards in seismic architecture. Canada's 2020 National Building Code update, permitting up to 12-story mass timber constructions, laid the groundwork for The Hive. Located in a high-seismic area, it faced additional regulatory challenges. By partnering with governmental bodies to secure $4 million for vital research and testing, the building not only adhered to these advanced standards but influenced their development. Unlike other notable mass timber structures, such as Milwaukee's 25-story Ascent, The Hive uniquely addresses seismic concerns, showcasing a high level of engineering robustness. Its presence in Vancouver attests to the feasibility of timber in seismic zones, providing a model for future constructions under similar conditions. The aesthetic and functional harmony of Design. Chosen for its seismic efficiency, the honeycomb imagery isn't merely decorative but serves as the optimal structural geometry for The Hive's scale. This synthesis of form and function creates a building that is both graphically and structurally innovative, setting a precedent for architectural integration. The debate surrounding mass timber - its benefits and perceived risks - finds a significant case study in The Hive. It demonstrates carbon footprint reductions and energy efficiency while confronting seismic and fire safety criticisms head-on. As a pioneering stride in mass timber architecture, The Hive opens the conversation for what is next in sustainable urban development. Explore how a New York restaurant capitalizes on sustainability by using discarded materials in construction, similar to this NYC restaurant's eco-friendly approach.